Tricks of the Trade for Installation Bolted Steel Couplings Models 201, 202, 203, 204
J CM Quality Fitting Equipped With 18-8 Stainless Steel Bolts and Nuts When not properly handled it is the nature of stainless steel fasteners to gall and freeze (seize up). This is due to the inherent properties of the stainless material. Galling and freezing is often triggered by the presence of metal chips, burrs and grains of sand on the threads of the bolts and nuts. Extra care has been taken by JCM prior to assembly and packing of this fi tting to assure a trouble-free installation. 1. The nuts and bolts are made from material of di ff erent hardness so that they have di ff erent strengths. 2. Standard 5/8” and 3/4” nuts are coated with a special blue or green (antiseize) coating. Additional lubricant may be needed. Uncoated stainless steel hardware is provided without lubrication to prevent a build up of dirt, sand or grit during shipment. A Molybdenum-Base lubricant is recommended. 3. Each nut is assembled by hand to be sure that it went on the bolt freely. 4. The bolts and nuts are handled carefully to avoid damage to the threads. 5. The bolts and nuts are made to exacting speci fi cations to assure that the correct material is used and that the thread form is correct. Stainless hardware is especially susceptible to galling. JCM supplies specially coated nuts to eliminate the galling caused by over torquing, but the bolt threads must be kept clean, free from nicks and not pitched or thrown into the tool bucket during the installation process. Use of pneumatic wrench for installation could cause hardware to seize and is not recommended. Tricks of the Trade Years of fi eld experience, special applications and product testing have revealed many subtleties regarding application and installation of bolted fi ttings. For maximum performance under adverse conditions take advantage of the JCM “Tricks of the Trade.” Always clean and lubricate pipe with water or soapy water. This helps overcome friction when installing the gasket. Do not use oil base pipe lubricant; the oil does not disperse, leaves residue and prevents the gasket from sealing/adhering to the pipe wall. Use water solvent lubricant. Alcohol may be added to water in freezing weather.
Di ffi cult to reach or cramped areas on the backside or underside of the pipe can be visually checked by using a mirror.
Couplings perform at optimal e ff ectiveness when centered over joint area.
Use of short shims will assist in keeping the follower centered on the pipe and can be removed as bolts are tightened.
Lubricating coupling bolts will ease installation and assure proper torquing of bolts.
Tightening bolts a star rotation pattern will compress the gasket evenly into the coupling ring and prevent leak or blowout due to misaligned gasket.
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